Antenna Systems & Technology - 2013 Spring - (Page 9)
CASE STUDY
Improve Antenna Alignment Monitoring by Preventing Condensation
The Situation - Sunsight Instruments of Orlando, Florida, provides antenna alignment and
monitoring systems to the telecommunications
industry. The AntennAware Attitude Sensor
(AAS) is a permanently mounted, fully integrated monitoring sensor that ensures correct
alignment of antennae on a continual basis.
The AAS uses time of day, latitude and longitude information to determine the position of
the sun, with highly sensitive accelerometers
measuring the down-tilt and antenna plumb.
The system evaluates the antenna’s alignment
and alerts telecom operators of misalignment
conditions, saving thousands of dollars and
enhancing the safety of their operations. In
addition, operators have accurate alignment
information for ensuring efficient market coverage. To calculate the antenna’s position, the
AAS relies upon two constant sources of orientation: the force of gravity and the orbit of
the earth around the sun. Therefore, it must be
able to track the sun’s movement across the
sky without any obstruction.
The Challenge - Because of constantly
changing weather conditions, the
Sunsight engineering team knew the
AAS system needed a housing that
met Ingress Protection 68 standard.
At the same time, the housing needed a clear dome that did not block or
distort the sun’s rays.
The AAS is exposed to continuous sunlight during the day and cool
Before Vent Installation
temperatures at night, so the team
knew that the system needed to be
able to breathe. Rapid temperature
changes outside the housing can cause significant
pressure differentials inside the housing, which can
result in a vacuum forming. Over time, the vacuum
puts stress on the housing seals, which can eventually fail and draw in moisture vapor. Because the
moisture vapor has no path out of the housing, it
eventually can condense inside the dome, which in
turn obstructs sunlight and compromises the AAS
measurements. Moisture within the dome can also
corrode the sensitive electronic instrumentation
that is being protected.
The Solution - Based on the recommendation of another antenna manufacturer, Sunsight contacted Gore about installing a
Gore Protective Vent in the AAS system. Gore’s application engiwww.AntennasOnline.com
neers collaborated with the Sunsight engineering team and conducted several field trials.
After five months of exposure to sun, rain and
snow, the AAS with the Gore Protective Vent
showed no evidence of condensation, whereas
the AAS without a vent showed substantial
condensation. During these trials, Gore also
evaluated several vent designs and recommended a polyvent for maximum airflow and
protection. This vent equalizes pressure in the
dome by allowing air and moisture vapor to
pass in and out of the enclosure freely, reducing the potential for condensation. At the same
time, the vent serves as a barrier to prevent
liquid, dirt, dust, salt and other contaminants
from entering.
According to Sunsight CEO Tony Wattwood,
“Our products are exposed to all weather conditions 24 hours a day, seven days a week, from
Anchorage, Alaska to Miami, Florida. With
these widely varying environments, the Gore
Protective vents provide the assurance that
our products maintain their IP68 rating during
rapid thermal/pressure changes from shipping
to installation to operation. Gore’s engineering
team understood our situation and
worked very closely with us to ensure that our product works reliably
regardless of its location.”
Product Line Engineered for
Simple Integration
Gore Protective vents are manufactured in different sizes and
After Vent Installation
shapes, making it easy to choose
the right vent for any application.
With a diverse product portfolio,
these vents are easy to integrate into new or existing designs to meet the needs of a broad range of
applications and markets. The versatility of Gore
Protective vents is apparent in both their range of
protection and their ease of installation. Features
of the vents include: tolerate temperatures ranging
from –40°C to 125°C, perform to protection standards up to IP69K, provide maximum protection
for applications in harsh environments through
molded plastic or metal vents, install by being
adhered, threaded, snapped, bolted or, heat/ultrasonic-welded to
a variety of enclosure materials, and adhere to the device with
adhesive backing for applications with insufficient free space to
install a vent inside.
Spring 2013 Antenna Systems & Technology
9
http://www.AntennasOnline.com
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Antenna Systems & Technology - 2013 Spring
Antenna Systems & Technology - 2013 Spring
Editor’s Choice
Antenna Technology Applications for Advanced LTE
Case Study: Improve Antenna Alignment Monitoring by Preventing Condensation
Antennas
Components/Subsystems
Software/System Design
Test & Measurement
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